The Pride before a fall

[Sammy Chung was King]

Recently myself included, the victories racked up have led to a slight overconfidence. When i predicted ourselves to win again, i just had that nagging thought that all Rovers fans have, whoever we play.
That football is such a cruel game, just when you think you have cracked it, you are due a fall, and the more it was mentioned how many times on the trot we had beaten them, we must be due to lose!.
But i just thought ''I am imagining the worst, the way Scunthorpe are playing we can't lose against them''!, but it has come to pass.
Does anybody think this overconfidence set in even to the players?. Or was it an offday?, Too much indulgence in their time off?, Or have Ferguson's tactics been sussed out?.

I feel like we are like a ''Paper champion' in boxing, where the title has been handed to him, but he hasn't beat anybody of note. Apart from Coventry and Burton we have been ''Flat track bullies'', beating side's that everybody else is also beating.
During the good run we have had, i feel it has papered over cracks that are still in our side. The manager has brought only three in, and won games, which the previous manager wouldn't have, but there are still problems in our whole squad.
For me if the club want to be any better than a midtable team, we need additions in january. The manager has also said ''He doesn't need many apart from retaining the loan players''!.
If he really believes that i think he is wrong. In my opinion we need two strikers, cover or replacement for Butler, we need a dominant central midfielder who wins the ball has pace around the field, and has a presence in there, i would also look at bringing a winger in as well.

Going out would be McKenzie, Keegan, Main, Wellens, Chaplow, N'Guessan. That is the reason i would look to bring five to six players in, this league there is a chance for anybody if you do decisive business in the january window.
It's only one loss but i still have the opinion that the defence needs tightening up a touch, we are not keeping clean sheets very often.
You can't outscore people every week, even though it's very entertaining to watch, the better teams will pick you off!.
'' I do think Scunthorpe scouted thoroughly and got the better of him tactically today, it's known throughout the land how Fergie likes to play''!.
For me we have the makings of a very good team, but we need additions and outgoings in january. I trust the manager to be decisive nevermind next season, there is an opportunity this season, give him a few quid to get who he wants!.

[RoversAlias]

You'd get rid of Keegan? He improved our midfield both times he came off the bench the last two games, and scored a pearler last weekend too. Rest of that list I can't disagree with mind.

You may be on to something with your overall point as well, indeed we have won 7 league games this season and they are all against teams sat below us in the bottom 8. Perhaps this means we are exactly where we deserve to be in the table.

The only team below us that we haven't beaten in fact, are our next opponents Oldham (as you can read in my upcoming preview of the game on the VSC website  )

[les@donr]

Sammy, agree with much what you say. We are clearly a squad in progress and their needs to be personnel changes in January. It is clear that Wellens, Forrester and probably Main are on the way out. I would say Stewart will be signed, plus a striker, I think Madden from Scunny would be a good move, could work well with either Tyson or Williams. I'm sure Fergie has a clear plan as to what is hoping to achieve this season, if he is able to bring in the right players we could reach the play offs, if he has to wait until the Summer then we'll probably end the season mid-table with a promotion push next season.

[newyankee]

I think you are nearly correct Sammy, but Keegan should definitely stay put.  Forrester and Wellens should go to free up some hefty wages and the others you mention , N'Guesson, McKenzie, Main and  Chaplow  could also be allowed to go. We need to bring in  a commanding centre half or two, and  another striker with a couple of midfielders to take  the place of Chaplow and Wellens.

 I think DF has made it clear that Forrester does not figure in his plans and Wellens is just a drag on the club. If you caught his interview when he went back to Oldham you wouldn't let him back anywhere near the Keepmoat.

[wilts rover]

Sammy, you always want to bring players in. If it was up to you we would have a different squad every week.

I could certainly see 5 or 6 leaving in January, but no way will that many come in. What Fergie has said is that whilst he wants some more additions he thinks his squad is too big and wants to trim it down, so there are going to be more leaving than coming in.

[bally1950]

Well. I do not think Danny has been given much game time since his arrival via injury or other players doing well. Tyson I like and is a workhorse, yesterday he was lamed whilst defending a corner in the first half, he could have and should have scored straight after but chose to take keeper on a bit too long, but he does score goals. I like Stewart but again he needs more game time. Madden I believe has signed a two year deal at Scunny so he will not be prized away. On that yesterday, Scunny bi passed our midfield and Madden and the other fair haired lad (Walker????) ran onto good balls, So big rough Centre half is needed 3-5-2 did not work yesterday but Scunny got away with all the tricks in the book.
Who Ferguson will bring in I do not know, but the full back from Everton will go back I feel due to injury curtailing his game time although clearly a very talented player, Grant I would like to keep him but yesterday like others had his mind on other things.

Ferguson I suspect is aiming to bring in settled players who will see us to mid table safety which I must admit I am more than happy with.

[Rovers91]

You can't get rid of 5-6 players and bring in 5-6 in a January transfer window be realistic it's not football manager.

[Chris Black come back]

Whether it is January or June, it looks fairly certain he wants to bring in Stewart and Alcock, and say goodbye to Forrester and Wellens.

Beyond that it is unclear. Not sure that McKenzie or Main have a future, but at least Dany is getting on bench. These will probably be the three most likely to leave I would have thought.

With Grant only on loan and us unlikely to sign him long-term, he also needs to make a decision on Chaplow as without Grant our midfield is the teenage Middleton, injury prone Keegan and 35 year old Copps. If he doesn't think Chaplow can figure then he needs to move him on as he will be a very decent earner I would have thought.

[steve@dcfd]

You can't get rid of 5-6 players and bring in 5-6 in a January transfer window be realistic it's not football manager.

Totally agree first you need 5 or 6 clubs who want our contracted players in the January window, that are not even in our first eleven.

[Donnywolf]

Great and very accurate point !!!

[RedJ]

Whether it is January or June, it looks fairly certain he wants to bring in Stewart and Alcock, and say goodbye to Forrester and Wellens.

Beyond that it is unclear. Not sure that McKenzie or Main have a future, but at least Dany is getting on bench. These will probably be the three most likely to leave I would have thought.

With Grant only on loan and us unlikely to sign him long-term, he also needs to make a decision on Chaplow as without Grant our midfield is the teenage Middleton, injury prone Keegan and 35 year old Copps. If he doesn't think Chaplow can figure then he needs to move him on as he will be a very decent earner I would have thought.

Middleton is 20 actually,

A.Pedant




And to be fair, Chaplow has been out injured so he hasn't really been able to get into the side yet under Ferguson.

[bally1950]

Now to be shot at... I think that Copps should in fairness to him play hit and miss, certain games he should have a rest and play the more grissly ones thus hoping he will get another couple of years play time. Just a suggestion

[drfchound]

Keegan should stay as in my opinion he has a big part to play in the second half of the season.
Copps is as fit as anyone in the squad and is more than capable of playing as many games as he is fit to play in.
I also think that Chaplow has plenty to offer and if he can stay fit he could become a squad regular.

Paddy Madden?
When he became available from Yeovil after his fall out with Johnson i was a big advocate of getting him but for some reason the club didn't seem interested in him.
He is a fine player and gets plenty of goals.
he worked his socks of against us yesterday.

[RoverAtUni]

We looked more assured with Keegan on the pitch. N'Guessan looked lively when he came on, looks like waiting for game time is making him hungry.

[Chris Black come back]

Judging by size of N'Guessen it is not just lack of game time that is making him hungry.

Could we use him on a job share with the Dons?

[Donnywolf]

Judging by size of N'Guessen it is not just lack of game time that is making him hungry.

Could we use him on a job share with the Dons?

Or Yorkshire County Cricket Club ? He could open the batting and roll the wicket at the same time !

[Sammy Chung was King]

Sammy, you always want to bring players in. If it was up to you we would have a different squad every week.

I could certainly see 5 or 6 leaving in January, but no way will that many come in. What Fergie has said is that whilst he wants some more additions he thinks his squad is too big and wants to trim it down, so there are going to be more leaving than coming in.

Wilts normally i wouldn't want six in six out, but it's the situation we are in where the signings in pre season haven't quite worked out.
 McKenzie doesn't fit into how the team is playing, Wellens is practically through the door anyway, Forrester looks to be on his way(though i still think if he got his head right he could have been good for us, but he hasn't done it).
Keegan has improved since he has got his chance, but over a long time has proven not good enough, where were the performances that he has produced lately, before?, Main just hasn't worked out for us, N'Guessan started unfit and has barely improved his condition.
Chaplow we were pretty excited about, again he hasn't really done it.

We are a club that if players come in, then a few must go out as well to balance the books. It's a massive risk to have so many in and out, because there is a team sprit developing.
McKenzie we wouldn't miss he hasn't really played that much, Wellens is almost certainly already done, Forrester the manager doesn't seem to want, for me that's three almost certainties going out.
I see Keegan, N'Guessan, Main and Chaplow playing for their futures. Normally you want two to three in and out at most in a transfer window.
I just think with some of them drastic action is needed, because i see a decent chance for promotion with a few better players coming in, i have faith the manager will do the right thing anyway.
Just thinking out loud what i would do, but it's not always easy to get clubs to sign your players, or for our club to get who they want, i do see a bit of activity in the window for us, maybe not as many as i have said.

[Campsall rover]

If we keep our 3 loan players which looks probable acording to Fergie's interview after today's match then he is only bringing in one more player and that will be a stiriker.

[les@donr]

could be a swap deal for either Forrester or Wellens. Main cannot get a game, he'll be on his way in January.

[dickos1]

I don't rate mckenzie but ferguson reckons this system will suit him so I can't see him leaving
Chaplow has been injured bit I don't think ferguson fancies him, and keegan for me has been one of our most consistent players over the last 3 years

[Sammy Chung was King]

I don't rate mckenzie but ferguson reckons this system will suit him so I can't see him leaving
Chaplow has been injured bit I don't think ferguson fancies him, and keegan for me has been one of our most consistent players over the last 3 years

You might be right on McKenzie, playing as the rock with one either side of him and wing backs, maybe he would be okay.
 Chaplow he let him go before so it wouldn't surprise me, he has disappointed me Chaplow, not quite produced what i expected.
 Keegan might have been one of our most consistent players before, but the standards were very low.
It's only been because he has been our only specialist defensive midfielder, that he has played so much. I just think if we want to do better, we need better, nothing against him, but i think he is too limited for what we need.

[les@donr]

Sammy, is McKenzie a rock or a liability? Seems when he plays the defence is shaky or he gets himself sent off. I would keep Keegan as a squad player, but get in a midfielder who can play defence and in attack.

[drfchound]

Keegan has a very happy knack of being able to get a foot in at the right time and in my opinion he protects the back four as well as anyone we have had in that role for quite some time.

[dickos1]

The fact that every manager we've had has done nothing but praise Keegan should tell you everything

[RedJ]

Some people are never going to rate him purely because they've decided he's shit therefore he is shit.

[Dare to dream!]

Keegan was our best player after Williams yesterday

[Sammy Chung was King]

Luckily my opinion doesn't count for that much, because Keegan as much as i admire his professionalism, i just don't think he is a good player.
Ferguson i don't think will let him go anyway, he is an honest pro, probably a good influence around the club, and does what's asked of him, they will just let his contract run down.

[drfchound]

Df said on a recent interview that he rates Keegan as a very good pro.